Combination receptacle for refrigerators



Jan. 7, 1936. r A. Y; DowELL 2,027,092

COMBINATION RECPTACLE FOR' REFRIGERATORS I Filed o'ct. 1, 1932Y JAJA g4-L IBA-M 22 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Jan. 7, 1936 I UNITED STATES COIMBINATION RECEPTACLE FOR REFRIGERATORS Alvis Yates Dowell, Hastings-on-Hudson, N.v Y.,

asslgnor to Servel, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Applieationloctoter 1.1932, serial No. 635353 12 Claims.

This invention relates to receptacles for use in refrigerators and more particularly to a receptacle adapted to separately contain a plurality of substances.

5 In mechanical refrigerators in which the cooling element is-maintainedat a temperature low enough for rapid freezing of water into ice 'cubes and is also utilized for cooling the air in a storage compartment, there is continuous condensation lo of moisture out1 of the air onto the cooling element due to its low temperature. The condensate freezes and as a result the cooling element becomes covered with a gradually thickening coat of frost which for sanitary reasons and also l5 for efficiency of operation should be intermittently removed. 'Ihis is usually accomplished by raising the temperature ofthe cooling element to melt thefrost, commonly referred to as defrosting, and a receptacle usually in the form of a 2o pan or tray is provided beneath the cooling element to receive the drip during the defrosting period.

This invention contemplates a drip pan having a segregated compartment for containing drinking water or other substance to be cooledin the refrigerator. Obviously, however, the invention is not so limited but a combination receptacle contemplated by this invention may be utilized for the reception of any plurality of substances 3u desired to be separately contained in a refrigerator.

. The invention will be 'more fully understood by' 45 or receptacle I0' is provided with a horizontal partition II forming an upper chamber I2 open at the top and a lower fluid tight chamber I3. The partition II is provided-with an upstanding portion or boss `III having an opening adapted to 50 be closed by a screw plug I5 or other suitable closure member. A gasket or Washer I6 is provided between the plug I5 and boss I 4 to insure a tight closure. .p

. At one end of the receptacle I there is pro- 55 vided a tap or faucet I1 of the push valve or closure member 21.

other desired type for withdrawing liquid fro the lower compartment I3. With this construction there results a unitary structure having a closed lower compartment and an upper compartment open at the top. The upper compartment is in the form of a trap for the reception of drip from the cooling element I8 when the'combination receptacle is located in the refrigerator I9 where it is supported by a shelf 20 in the refrigerator storage compartment immediately be- 10 l low the cooling element as shown in Fig. l. 'Ihe closed compartment I3 may be filled with drinking water or other liquid through theopening in boss I4 and the water Withdrawn for use as desired through the faucet I1. When the receptacle is located in the refrigerator as shown in Fig. 1 the liquid in the lower compartment is cooled both by radiation and convection from the cooling element I8 and also by conduction through the partition which separates the compartments when the upper receptacle contains liquid cooler than the liquid in the lower compartment as .during defrosting. As shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing the combination receptacle may be constructed by nesting two pans of different depths. The outer pan 2l may .be similar to the container I0 shown in Fig. 3

and provided with a faucet 22 in the lower partthereof in the same manner. A shallow pan or tray 23 is provided with an overturned rim 24 and 30 nested within the pan 2| with the overturned rim resting on the upper edge of the deeper pan. The two pans 2| and 22 may be permanently secured together in this position or the shallow pan or tray 23 made removable thus allowing greater 35 flexibility in the use of the device.

In the use of the receptacle described above, the tray 23 collects and retains drip from the cooling element during the defrosting interval and the, lower compartment 25 formed in the 40 lower part of the pan 2I may be used to store drinking water or other liquid. To facilitate filling the liquid compartment 25 without removal of theV tray 23 the bottom of the latter is provided with Van upturned portion'or boss 26 having an 45r opening closed by a screw plug or other suitable I prefer to provide the lling opening for the lower compartment in anupturned portion 26 of the tray 23 thereby bringing the opening above the level of liquid contained in the tray thus obviating any seepage past the closure member 21 into the lower compartment.

It will be obvious that various other changes and modifications may be made in the construc- 56 tion'and arrangement without departing from the spirit ofthe invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawing and described in the specication but only as indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A receptacle having a plurality of compartments, one of said compartments being completely closed and provided with a portion ex. tending through another compartment dening a lling opening, a closure member for said opening, and a` faucet for withdrawing liquid from said compartment, both of said compartments being constructed to contain a substantial body of liquid whereby heat transfer is provided between liquid contained in said compartment having the filling opening extending therethrough and another compartment.

2. A receptacle having an upper compartment open at the top and a closed lower compartment having a portion extending through the upper compartment and defining a filling opening, a closure member fcr said opening, and a faucet for withdrawing iquid from said lower compartment, said upper compartment being constructed to contain a substantial body of liquid whereby interchange of heat between said compartment and an adjacent compartment is 3. A receptacle comprising a pan, a horizontal partition in said pan between the bottom and rim thereof having a portion extending through :said pan and defining an opening through said partition, closure means for said opening, and a lfaucet on said pan below said partition, said partition defining an upper compartment of a depth to retain a substantial body of liquid and a lower compartment whereby heat exchange is effected between liquids in said compartments.

4. A receptacle comprising a pan, a tray nested in said pan to form a closed compartment in the lower part of the latter, and a faucet on said pan for withdrawing liquid from said compartment,

said tray being constructed to contain a substantial body of liquid whereby heat exchange is effected between liquid in the tray and said closed compartment.

'5. A receptacle comprising a pan,-a tray having an opening in the bottom thereof and adapted to be nested in said pan to form a closed chamber in the bottom thereof, closure means for said opening, and a faucet on saidpan for withdrawling liquid from said chamber, said tray being constructed to contain a substantial body of liquid whereby heat exchange is eiected between liquid in the tray and said closed compartment.

6. A receptacle comprising a rectangular pan,

a rectangular in'ay having an outwardly extending rim adapted to be supported in the upper part of said pan by said rim on the upper edge of the pan, and a faucet on the lower part of one end of said pan, said tray being constructed to contain a substantial body of liquid whereby heat exchange is eiected between liquid in the tray and said closed compartment.

'7. A combination defrosting pan and reservoir for drinking water comprising a closed lower receptacle and an open upper receptacle constructed to contain a substantial body of liquid Y lfwhereby heat exchange between said receptacles v"plane of the top of the open upper receptacle and providing a filling opening for the lower receptacle. 10

8. A combination defrosting pan and reservoir for drinking water comprising a closed lower receptacle and an open upper receptacle constructed to contain a substantial body of liquid whereby heat exchange between said receptacle is effected, said receptacles forming a unitary structure, the closed lower receptacle having a portion extending upwardly through and to the plane of the top of the open upper receptacle and providing a lling opening for the lower receptacle, and means for discharging liquid from said lower receptacle.

9. A receptacle comprising a pan, a tray nested in said pan for containing a substantial body of liquid for cooling the pan, said pan and tray forming a closed compartment beneath the tray in the lower part of the pan, and an open compartment above the tray in the upper portion of the pan, and means'whereby access may be had to the interior`of the compartment beneath the tray through the tray, which means is constructed to exclude liquid contained in the tray from running into the lower compartment.

l0. A combination receptacle comprising partition means defining a plurality of compartments, said partition having a rim for retaining a substantial body of liquid upon said partition and also having a portion dening an opening and constructed to exclude liquid passing by gravity through said partition.

11. A combination defrosting pan and reservoir for drinking water comprising a closed lower receptacle for water to be cooled, an open upper receptacle for collecting a substantial body of water discharged from the evaporator of a household refrigerator, means for discharging water from the lower receptacle, the lower receptacle having a portion extending upwardly through the upper receptacle and defining a filling opening for the lower receptacle, and a closure for said opening extendingA above the top of the upper its bottom and provided with an upstanding portion defining a filling opening with a reservoir about the lling opening for defrosting water from the cooling unit of a mechanical refrig. erator, the construction being such that the defrosting water is adapted to cool the water within the lower portion of the pan.

ALVIS YATES DOW'ELL. 

